April MD, et al. - Researchers performed a comparison of aromatherapy with inhaled isopropyl alcohol vs oral ondansetron for treating nausea among Emergency Department (ED) patients not requiring immediate intravenous access. Compared to oral ondansetron alone, aromatherapy with or without oral ondansetron provided greater nausea relief among ED patients with acute nausea and not requiring immediate intravenous access.

Methods

• A convenience sample of adults presenting to an urban tertiary care ED with chief complaints including nausea or vomiting were enrolled in a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
• Randomization of subjects to 1 of 3 arms was performed: inhaled isopropyl alcohol and 4 mg oral ondansetron, inhaled isopropyl alcohol and oral placebo, and inhaled saline solution placebo and 4 mg oral ondansetron.
• Mean nausea reduction measured by a 0- to 100-mm visual analog scale from enrollment to 30 minutes postintervention was assessed as the primary outcome.
• Receipt of rescue antiemetic medications and adverse events were included as secondary outcomes.

Results

• This trial included 122 subjects.
• Of these, 120 (98.3%) completed the study.
• Of randomized subjects, 40 received inhaled isopropyl alcohol and oral ondansetron, 41 received inhaled isopropyl alcohol and oral placebo, and 41 received inhaled saline solution placebo and oral ondansetron.
• In nausea visual analog scale score, the mean decrease in each arm was 30 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 22 to 37 mm), 32 mm (95% CI 25 to 39 mm), and 9 mm (95% CI 5 to 14 mm), respectively.
• In each arm, rescue antiemetic therapy was received by 27.5% (95% CI 14.6% to 43.9%), 25.0% (95% CI 12.7% to 41.2%), and 45.0% (95% CI 29.3% to 61.5%), respectively.
• No adverse events were reported.